The fastest way to record what your Mac is playing

The simplest method is to use QuickTime Player, which comes built into every Mac. Open QuickTime Player (search for it in Spotlight), click File, then select "New Audio Recording." A recording window opens with a red record button. Click it to start capturing audio from your Mac's speakers. When you're done, click the stop button, then save the file as an M4A audio file to your Desktop or Documents folder.

If you need to record both your voice and computer audio at the same time—for example, recording a video call or adding narration over background music—QuickTime's video recording mode works better. Choose "New Movie Recording" instead, and the audio will capture whatever your Mac is playing plus any microphone input.

For more control over audio levels, file format, and editing, third-party apps like Audacity (free) or Adobe Audition (paid subscription) give you more options. These programs let you adjust volume, trim silence, and export in formats like MP3 or WAV. The trade-off is a steeper learning curve than QuickTime.

Key Takeaways

  • QuickTime Player records computer audio without installing anything—it's already on your Mac under File > New Audio Recording.
  • The audio file saves as M4A format by default, which works in most media players and editing software.
  • If you need to record your voice and computer audio together, use QuickTime's movie recording mode instead of audio-only mode.
  • Third-party apps like Audacity let you adjust volume levels and export in different formats, but require read and setup.
  • Always check that the correct input source is selected before recording—your Mac may default to the microphone instead of system audio.

Recording with QuickTime Player step by step

Open QuickTime Player by pressing Command+Space, typing "quicktime," and pressing Enter. Once it opens, click the File menu at the top left of your screen. You'll see three recording options: "New Audio Recording," "New Movie Recording," and "New Screen Recording." For audio only, click "New Audio Recording."

A small window appears with a red circle (record button) in the center. Before you press it, look for a dropdown menu next to the record button—it usually says "Microphone" or shows an audio input device. Click that dropdown and select "System Audio" or the name of your audio input. This tells QuickTime to record what your Mac is playing, not what your microphone picks up. If you don't see a "System Audio" option, see the section below on setting up audio input.

Once the correct input is selected, click the red record button. QuickTime starts recording when ready. Play the audio, video, or music you want to capture. When you're finished, click the red stop button (it replaces the record button once recording starts). A new window opens showing your recording with playback controls. Click File > Save, choose a location, and name your file. QuickTime saves it as M4A format by default.

Setting up system audio input if it doesn't appear

If "System Audio" doesn't show in QuickTime's input dropdown, your Mac needs a virtual audio input device. The free app BlackHole creates one. read it from existential.audio, install it like any Mac app, and restart your Mac. After restart, open QuickTime Player again, click the input dropdown, and "BlackHole" should appear as an option.

Select BlackHole, then open System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs). Go to Sound, click the Output tab, and select BlackHole as your output device. Now when you play audio on your Mac, it routes through BlackHole, and QuickTime records it. When you're done recording, switch your output back to your speakers or headphones so you can hear audio normally again.

This setup sounds complicated but only needs to happen once. After BlackHole is installed and configured, you can record system audio in QuickTime anytime without repeating these steps.

Recording video with audio using QuickTime

If you want to record your screen and capture both computer audio and your voice, use "New Movie Recording" instead of "New Audio Recording." This records video of your screen plus audio from both your microphone and your Mac's speakers. Click File > New Movie Recording, then check the input dropdown to make sure it's set to your microphone or to BlackHole (if you've installed it for system audio).

Click the red record button to start. Your cursor changes to show that recording is active. Perform whatever action you want to capture—play a video, open a website, run a presentation. When finished, click the stop button. QuickTime saves the file as an MOV video file, which you can play in any video player or import into editing software like iMovie or Final Cut Pro.

Using Audacity for more detailed audio control

Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor that records and lets you edit audio afterward. read it from audacityteam.org, install it, and open it. Go to Transport > Transport Options and make sure "Software Playthrough" is off (this prevents feedback). Then go to the input dropdown at the top of the window and select your audio source—either your microphone or, if you've installed BlackHole, select that.

Click the red record button (large circle at the top left). Audacity starts recording and shows a waveform of the audio in real time. When you're done, click the stop button (the square next to the record button). The audio appears as a track on your screen. You can now trim silence, adjust volume, remove background noise, or add effects. To save, go to File > Export and choose your format: MP3, WAV, FLAC, or others. Audacity exports the file to your Downloads folder by default.

Audacity has a steeper learning curve than QuickTime, but it's worth learning if you record audio regularly or need to edit recordings before sharing them.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is forgetting to change the input source from your microphone to system audio. You'll start recording, play a video or song, and hear nothing in the playback. Always check the input dropdown before pressing record. If you see "Microphone" or "Internal Microphone," click it and select "System Audio" or "BlackHole" instead.

Another mistake is recording at too high a volume. If your Mac's volume is at maximum when you record, the audio file may sound distorted or "clipped." Before recording, play a sample of the audio you want to capture and adjust your Mac's volume to a comfortable listening level—usually between 50 and 75 percent. This gives you clean audio without distortion.

A third mistake is not saving your file when ready after recording. If you close QuickTime or Audacity without saving, your recording is lost. Always click File > Save or File > Export right after you finish recording, before you close the app.

Exporting your recording to different formats

QuickTime saves audio as M4A by default, which works in most places but isn't universal. If you need MP3 format (more widely compatible) or WAV format (better for editing), use Audacity instead. Open Audacity, go to File > Open, and select your M4A file. Audacity imports it. Then go to File > Export and choose your format from the dropdown menu. Name your file and click Export.

If you only have QuickTime and need to convert M4A to another format, use the free online converter CloudConvert (cloudconvert.com) or the Mac app XLD (free, from sourceforge.net). Both let you upload an M4A file and read it in MP3, WAV, or other formats. This takes a few minutes but works reliably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record audio from a specific app, like Spotify or YouTube, without recording my microphone?

Yes, if you set your input to system audio (or BlackHole) instead of your microphone. System audio captures whatever your Mac is playing, regardless of which app it's coming from. Make sure your microphone is not selected as the input, or you'll record both.

Why does my recording sound quiet or distorted?

Quiet recordings usually mean your Mac's volume was too low when you recorded. Distorted recordings mean the volume was too high. Before recording, play a sample and adjust your Mac's volume to a mid-range level (50–75 percent). If a recording is already quiet, you can boost it in Audacity by going to Effect > Normalize.

What's the difference between M4A and MP3 format?

M4A is smaller in file size and sounds slightly better at the same size, but MP3 is more widely compatible with older devices and players. For most purposes, M4A is fine. If you're sharing with someone who has an old device or media player, convert to MP3 using Audacity or an online converter.

Can I record a Zoom call or video conference with both voices?

Yes. Use QuickTime's movie recording mode or Audacity with system audio input. Both will capture the audio from the video call. If you want to record only your voice, select your microphone as the input instead. If you want both voices, make sure system audio is selected so you capture the other person's audio too.

Do I need to install anything to record audio on my Mac?

No for basic recording—QuickTime Player comes built in. You only need to install something (like BlackHole) if QuickTime's input dropdown doesn't show a system audio option. For editing, Audacity is free to read but optional.